Ich bin ein Mussulman

friend #23
You are right of course. But I wasn`t really stopping him from speaking :).

I had an Afghan friend who would weep while describing how she watched little children dead and dying being taken out of a day care center which had had a rocket dropped on it by the mujahiddeen in the hills above Kabul. Where were the poems then, and was it really all the US`s fault?

scouty,

Criticising a country is one thing---its healthy if a society/country is open to & encourages self-criticism. Thats one of the reasons why the US ``survived`` Vietnam , but the Russians didnt survive Afghanistan.

When I first started reading Farzana Versey`a articles, I used to empathise & agree with her. Nowadays I feel her criticism (or anger) is getting prejudiced & sounds more like a complainer (like that Rev whathizname in NY). After awhile that kind of criticism gets annoying.

We had a black nurse working in the hospital I trained in; who had a temparament like Godzilla. One day she was extremely rude to a resident...I witnessed the whole incident, cos I was working with that resident; at that time.

The resident complained & the nurse got suspended. Omigod! She went to the ACLU, Civil Rights Commission, falana falana.saying she got suspended cos she`s black. The hospital administration just got intimidated & quickly reimbursed her ``lost wages`` & her job back!

Its people like this who become part of the problem; not part of the solution. Yes, I`m all for fighting against prejudice....but dont use prejudice as a ``defense/weapon`` to protect your own failings.

I`m NOT saying that thats the case with Farzana. Dunno why, but something gives me a gut feeling that thats a part of Farzana`s anger...I could be wrong.

Urstruly,

Beta, youre not a hypocrite. In fact, I think you are the most open & honest person I`ve met...along with Farangi_Kush...(on Chowk) Youre not a simpleton either, even though I think your mullah turban is wrapped around your head too tight.

You & that mF_Ker are ``namak haraams``. Its one thing to criticise a country. You look down upon the Western culture, their value systems, their traditions too...NOT just the politics!

Oh you will deny it when bluntly confronted with that accusation....or you`ll bob & weave or you`ll practice creative spin doctoring... But it comes through your posts in a very sublte, though profound way. Even janitorial shrinks can ..er..sense between the lines.

Now why would a guy like you opt to be in the US?! Yes you are smart, very articulate & you are an engineer & I get a sense (from 1 of your articles) that you are attractive to women. But why the FU*K should a guy like this be living in the US; why not in Saudi Arabia--if it was just a question of making money?!

Hey, lets not get paranoid; OK! I dont think you are part of an AlQeeda cell. I sense some basic decency in you too...teeny bit perhaps...& I `d hate it that there would be a knock on your door in the middle of the night & be hauled away in some US cell with your civil liberties taken away; cause you ``fit a profile!``

But its angry, dissaffected muslims like you that have given Islam a bad name in the US. Yeah , you are a ``good`` muslim, & a ``true`` muslim & who the fu*k am I to judge you....but I feel that muslims I`ve met dont think like you...OK I dont have a mindscope...I admit it...

If I, hypothetically, DID have the wisdom to judge you, I think your Prophet would be dissappointed with that humongous chip on your shoulder.

But pleeasse take my unsolicited advice...pack your fu*king bags & move to frikking Saudi Arabia. They need more guys like you there!
Cheers..

Saminasha #27 Lets hope they dont boycott American ideas of democracy as well, and slip into their old habits of goose-stepping down Berlin streets shouting ``Heil Hitler``.

I thought ich bin ein berliner meant I am a French Fry.

stuka #24
I wasn`t taking scout`s attendence, I meant I have been all for protesting the war.

Germany is boycotting American goods...

Sadna #23,
My point is that if Rehan is expressing his unhappiness with US policies there is no need for us to be critical of him. If he has facts to back his unhappiness I am fine with that. If would be great if he has suggestions on how his unhappiness can be overcome, but I would not make that a condition before I let him speak.

I agree with you on FV. She is unhappy all the time and reasons given by her are baseless most of the time.

Urstruly #21
Aey Urstruly,
Don`t be so luvy-duvy with me. We are from opposite side of the borders and I will need to take a bath if you touch me. (and perhaps you will need to sacrifice a poor goat).

I don`t care if I am called a hypocrite. I am here to earn money - legally and for a better life. If any US policy goes against that I will voice my opinion. (For that matter if Indian policy goes against that I will voice my opinion - and it doesn`t matter what Pakistani policy is, I will always voice my opposition ..)

Now I must wash my hands as I addressed this post to you.

Sadna:

``I oppose the Iraq war and have done so all over these boards. Where were you? ``

Busy dissenting I guess.

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friend #20
I`m not sure what your point is. Of course you should speak, where did I ever say otherwise?
Its how you speak. Inspite of numerous instances of Indians being discriminated against, would you ever choose to speak complainingly as a helpless victim whom others are perpetually victimising instead of helping out or would you speak as someone who knows he has every right to speak, be heard and fight for his rights?

friend

you are a hypocrite, and so am I, according to the countless gora sahib`s tailcoat careers (TCs - in Punjabi its tattay chuk) on this website, who declared me so, when I gave them the same reasons.

#14 Subroto, #17 arjun.

Actually Subroto is close to the mark, though not exact. If JFK wanted to claim citizenship of berlin, he ought to have said ``Ich bin Berliner``.

``Ich bin ein Berliner`` translates to ``I am a jelly-doughnut`` (not jellybean).
Similarlary ``Ich bin ein Weiner`` indicates that the speaker is a species of wurst rather than a denizen of Vienna.

Sadna #5
I will agree with Scout. I live in US. But if I disagree with its policies, why should I speak?
Few of my American friends asked me if I am an American citizen. My reply was that I pay taxes, I contribute to American economy, my future is affected by American policies, why shouldn`t I speak?

welcome back dost-mitter. Good to see you.